Public views sought over police building shake-up in Coventry

Police in Coventry are beginning a programme of engagement
following a review of its property portfolio in the city.

Proposals around changes to a number of police buildings are being
shared with local councillors, partners and community groups as
part of the decision-making process.

Announced by the Police and Crime Commissioner last year, the
Coventry proposal forms part of a force-wide estates review aimed
at ensuring the force's use of buildings is fit for purpose and
meets the needs of local communities.

The proposals − which include Tile Hill, Radford and George Poole
House bases followed by Bell Green, Foleshill and Coventry Central
stations − will be shared with local groups over the next two
months to seek thoughts and views.

Under the draft plans, officers from the smaller bases will move
into buildings shared with other teams enabling them to work closer
together, be tasked more efficiently and join forces on operations
demanding large officer numbers.

The estates review assesses all police owned and leased buildings
in the West Midlands over the next two years, looking at current
use, the operational 'fit', condition of buildings, long term
maintenance costs, and opportunities to share facilities with
partners.

Assistant Police & Crime Commissioner Faye Abbot said:
"With continuing financial pressure on policing, it is essential we
review all our costs and expenditure to make sure that we keep
officers on the streets, investing our resources in detecting and
reducing crime.

"For example, there are 1,300 fewer police officers in West
Midlands Police today than there were four years ago. This means
some of our buildings are underused and empty much of the time.
Buildings are expensive to run and maintain. Coventry has nine
police buildings costing £1.3 million per year, and with a £2.9
million maintenance backlog. It's right to ask if we should be
spending taxpayers' money on little used buildings at the expense
of officers on the beat.

"Maintaining local policing at a time of reduced funding requires
innovation and creativity; for example we will look at joint
community bases. West Midlands Police must put the public first in
everything it does and it has a responsibility to provide suitable
facilities at an acceptable cost. We welcome as many views as
possible on this important subject."

"No decisions will be made until we've heard from partners,
community groups and residents and fed this back to the Police and
Crime Commissioner for a decision.

"Whatever decisions are reached as part of our estates review we're
determined they will not be to the detriment of our communities
which will continue to receive the same level of service and
interaction with officers.

"Crime in Coventry continues to fall…we're determined the downward
trend continues so it's important our police teams are located in
the best places to serve their communities."